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The storm that's coming in overnight will bring us a pretty good dump. While it will make access a drag for a few days, it will certainly help to build ice. The days may be warmish this weekend and next week, but the predictions are for cold nights. That is what we really need for areas like the Frankenstein Amphitheater, Texaco and the Numbered Gullies on Willard to come into their own. But fortunately there has been reasonable stuff to climb regardless.
CRAWFORD NOTCH ICE CLIMBING ACCESS::
I heard that early this week there was some issue between climbers hiking down the RR tracks from the Arethusa road and Conway Scenic RR workers working at Frankenstein recently. I had previously reported that there was pretty extensive work being done clearing the tracks and the trees alongside the tracks that has been taking place off and on for several weeks. The Conway Scenic RR was sold a couple of years ago and the new owners have been cleaning things up. If you are at Frankenstein and encounter workmen, PLEASE BE RESPECTFUL! They have been cutting and dropping trees along the tracks and of course are worried about liability. There have been and are No Trespassing signs posted along the tracks, and they do in fact have the right to work and to even run the trains year-round. that said, in the unlikely event that there is an actual issue, ice climbers do have some options to access most climbing areas. Here's a few...
1) Frankenstein Amphitheater: The Frankenstein Ravine Trail starts at the lower Arethusa parking lot and will take you under the trestle and right into the Amphitheater.
2) Standard & Dracula Areas: There is a pullout on the right side of the road ~ .6 mile north of the Dry River Campground and just opposite a summer parking area on the left. There is a bridge/culvert just past that and you can fairly easily hike up the hill and come out right below Dracula. Other than the very last steep bit, it's actually a pretty easy access.
3) Cinema and Numbered Gully areas on Willard: There is a summer trail that is used to access summer climbs like Across The Universe and others. There is a pullout directly below Cinema and the trail goes almost directly uphill to the base of Cinema.
Regardless of the train status I urge you to get out of the habit of leaving your packs or gear on or right along the side of the tracks! It's simply not a good idea.
ICE FEST 2023:
This is the 30 year anniversary of Ice Fest and it's going to be a good one! The official date is February 3-5, 2023. Stay tuned for website and registration updates, guest guide information, and party details. If you have any questions, you can call IMCS directly at (603) 356-7064.
Here's something cool - IMCS guide Mark Vanover and I will be co-leading a clinic on Friday titled "Just For Seniors 55+". Since Mark and I are still out here doing our best to get at it, I gotta figure that we have something that we could impart to those of us still wanting to climb as we get older. I for one am looking forward to it. That said, you could jump in if you're only 50! [LOL]
The official date is February 3-5, 2023. Stay tuned for website and registration updates, guest guide information, and party details. If you have any questions, you can call IMCS directly at (603) 356-7064.
Ice Conditions Report:
Selected Ice Conditions effective December 15, 2025
Took a quick ride into the Notch Monday morning. There was a lot more climbable stuff than on Thursday. At this rate by the weekend many things will be in normal IN conditions.Weather permitting of course. NOTE - possibility of rain late Thursday! FWIW In many placed right now, including my yard, the ground is simply NOT fully frozen. Please don't count on getting those solid turf-shots... Protect early and often!
Huntington Ravine
got some good stuff
Repentance
OUT
Standard Route
looks good
Dracula
very close, possible
For the full current conditions report, CLICK
HERE
SOME LOCAL/NATIONAL PANDEMIC THOUGHTS:
In New Hampshire there have been 23 deaths THIS WEEK and 22 LAST WEEK directly caused by COVID! Just let that sink in folks...
New Hampshire:
23 deaths reported so far this week!!!
1,488 active cases
37 Current hospitalizations being treated for COVID
2,917 Total deaths due to COVID-19 in NH
United States:
Confirmed: 101,919,330
Deaths: 1,103,035
OUR ONLY WAY OUT IS IF YOU GET VACCINATED, WHERE RECOMMENDED PLEASE STILL WEAR A MASK, WASH YOUR HANDS!
VALLEY CYCLING:
While I haven't done it myself yet, my understanding is that the Red Tail Trail and the downhill trail Hurricane, off Hurricane Mountain Road, are being groomed for fat bike riding! Of course you have to ride/push up the road to get there, so you earn your turns, but it's a great thing. I hope to get up there next week after this upcoming snow event so stay tuned.
Mobile Version Of NEClimbs:
Up on one of the Mount Washington Valley's finest crags and want to know what that climb you're looking at is? Or maybe you're on your way up from Boston and want to check out the Ice Report for your upcoming weekend plans. Or more likely, you're at work just want to daydream about your next adventure. Well if you have a smart phone handy, you can get to NEClimbs from anywhere you have cell service. While it doesn't offer every single feature of the site and it's not an "app", in mobile form, it does do a whole lot and is very useful. Here is the live link to the mobile version of NEClimbs:
Check it out and if you have issues on your specific phone, please feel free to let me know.
NEClimbs & White Mountain Report On Facebook:
Join us and LIKE us on Facebook. I'll try and post interesting pix every Thursday and the latest Ice Report in the season, tho certainly not the whole Report. Here's where you can check it out:
Climbing is a very dangerous sport. You can get hurt or even kill yourself. When you go climbing, you do so of your own free will. Everything on this site is to be taken with a grain of salt. Don't blame us if you get up some totally heinous route, in over your head and fall and hurt yourself.
